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A 32-year-old Essa Township man faces charges, including impaired driving causing death, following a mutli-vehicle crash west of Barrie on County Road 90 Friday evening that claimed the life of a 36-year-old Clearview Township man.
IAN MCINROY/BARRIE EXAMINER/QMI AGENCY

SPRINGWATER TWP. — A 32-year-old man faces several charges after a crash west of Barrie on Friday claimed the life of a 36-year-old man.

According to provincial police, shortly after 5 p.m. on County Road 90, east of County Road 28, a westbound Acura rear-ended a westbound Hyundai, forcing it into the oncoming lane. An eastbound Dodge minivan collided with the Hyundai.

The driver of the Hyundai, 36-year-old Jeremy Shakell of Clearview Township, died from his injuries at the scene. The minivan driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Police say the driver of the Acura left the scene and continued west on County Road 90, before abandoning the vehicle on Conc. 10 in Essa Township.

The suspect was arrested and taken to the Nottawasaga OPP detachment for breath tests. Blood-alcohol contents were found to be over the legal limit.

Harold Gardner, 32, of Essa Township, has been charged with impaired driving causing death, ‘over 80’ causing death, and failing to remain at the scene of a collision.

He was scheduled to make his first court appearance in Newmarket court on Saturday.

The funeral for Shakell is scheduled for 11 a.m., Wednesday, with a 10 a.m. visitation at the Jennett Chapel of the McClelland and Slessor Funeral Home on Bradford Street.